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Mindfulness,
simply put, means paying attention to the present. It means taking a step back
and noticing the world around you and paying attention to your thoughts and
feelings.

With
practice, mindfulness can help both adults and children cope with stress and
anxiety, and it has been shown to have positive effects on both physical and
mental health.

Many
students I work with enjoy mindfulness through journaling. However, as much as
they may like to write and express themselves, many have much difficulty
getting started. I truly understand that “block,” because I have experienced
this before as well.

Several
years ago a colleague and I were inspired to take a journaling class taught by
local journaling expert Barbara Stahura. Barbara’s love for journaling planted
many seeds and inspired me to use a tool that means so much to me to this
day.

What I did
not know, and was excited to learn, was that this tool could provide a certain
emotional, physical, and mental release. I personally use it and continue to
develop on this tool in my own practice of mindfulness.

Journaling
has become a very big part of my own self-care. I am also able to teach it to
students and adults that I get to serve in the capacity of supports provided
through Youth First.

One of my
favorite journaling techniques is tapping into something I will call “a non-negotiable”
– gratitude. I have found so many different ways to tap into gratitude through
journaling.

Within the
last year, I was provided a profound and simple suggestion I want to share with
you that was a game-changer in the way I look at my gratitude list today. It is
the self-reflective question, “What happened today that made me smile?”

That
one-liner prompt written at the top of the page with some willingness to shut off
any possible distraction can provide an oasis of positivity that is the best
dose of goodness one can give themselves.

I encourage
you to try this for yourself! All it really takes is some willingness, honest
reflection and open-mindedness to go within yourself about what happened in the
course of the day that simply made you smile.

Sharing this
technique as it was shared with me can create that “a-ha” moment for others
too, and once practiced becomes even more convincing.

I would also
like to encourage a suggested technique to test just how good this business of
mindfulness is and to pre-measure feelings before doing the journaling activity,
or any mindfulness activity for that matter.

List a few
feelings you are experiencing. For example, your list might include, “tired,
stressed, and overwhelmed.” Complete the mindfulness activity whether it is
journaling or another form of mindfulness that appeals to you.

The next
step is to post-measure your feelings after doing the activity. List a few
feelings you are experiencing immediately afterward.

Often there
is a shift that takes place within the way one feels and many will share
feeling more relaxed, calmer, and happier. The results are undeniable and very
encouraging.

Gratitude
does have a contagious element to it and could be just the key to establishing
that dose of mindfulness needed. Go grab a pen see what happens for you!

https://youthfirstinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/gratitude-journal.png400600Youth Firsthttps://youthfirstinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/340x156_YouthFirst_logo_color-300x138.pngYouth First2019-09-03 09:40:452019-09-09 15:31:12Gratitude Can Be The Key That Unlocks Mindfulness